Yes, Ranch 99 has lots of pork bones. Best to get there in the morning. Likewise, all the Chinese butchers in SF or Oakland Chinatown who break down whole pigs every morning. I've also bought pork neck bones from Nob Hill/Raley's markets. They're a common item at carnicerias as well.

Most asian and latino markets (including 99 ranch) will stock several boney cuts for making pork stock. They may not be labelled pork bones per se. Look for cheaper cuts with more bones and connective tissue. I've used neck bones, trotters or pig feet, or tail cuts.

I mention that when I went into one carniceria asking for beef marrow bones, the butcher said he'd give them to me at no charge if I bought something else. So i bought a couple beef shanks and half a calf foot to get my freebie, which was everything I needed to make beef stock. This might also apply to pork bones.

Pork bones are often used in Chinese cuisine for stocks and soups. I wouldn't think Chinese markets would give those out of free. The carniceria option sounds like a good idea; I'll have to try it next time.

Pork neck bones are wonderful. Lots of cartilage and connective tissue to add body to your stock, bones for the minerally taste, and there's usually a lot of meat left on them. The meat stays quite succulent and smooth even after long cooking. I can usually get a cup or so of meat off a pound of bones. I use it to make chile verde and the stock gets directed toward a Chinese soup.

God, I love Ranch 99. Every time I go in there I come out with bags of new and interesting stuff.They had bags and bags of delightful pork bones just waiting for me.Golden Gate...no, Prather...no, the Bowl...no, they all said they could order them.Prather did have some lovely Leaf Lard, though.

Well, the man at the Bowl meat counter told me yesterday that I need to order them.I know that Prather only carries bagged meat, but they could have had bagged bones, catering to the foodie crowd that they do. Ya never know. But they are always so lovely to deal with, I had to buy 6 tubs of leaf lard, just because.Golden Gate has to order them as well.But 99 has bags, and bags, and bags

I remember as a kid, that you could always get bones of all kinds at the butcher counter. But that it a while ago, and times have changed.

I was also surprised that they had to get a manager to talk about pork belly at the Bowl. The guy I talked to first, looked confused and said "pork belly??". I figured that if anyone would stock it, they would.

The skill levels of the people who work the butcher counter at the Bowl vary about as widely as possible. Some are great, we wanted some marrow bones and the guy said, why don't you buy a whole shin and I'll saw it up? which saved us a lot. Some pretty obviously have had about 15 minutes of experience.